Cotton-picker.



S. S. THOMAS.

COTTON PICKER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24, 1911.

l 9 l QQ. l W2. Patented Deo. 22, 1914.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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S. S. THOMAS.

COTTON PICKER.

APPLIUATION FILED 111111.24, 1911.

Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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S. S. THOMAS.

COTTON PICKER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24, 1911.

Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

fp/zcrz Thomas S. S; THOMAS.

COTTON PICKER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24, 1911.

Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

e SHEETS-SHEET 4.

C; W By S. S. THOMAS.

COTTON PICKER.

APPLIGATION FILED 111111.24, 1911.

1L l 2%., l WQ.. Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

S. S. THOMAS.

COTTON PICKER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24, 1911.

Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5,

1771/677 for:

I STEPHEN S. THOMAS, OF GULFPORT, VIISSISSIPI.

COTTON-PICKER.

` maarre.

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that l, STEPHEN S. THOMAS,

a citizen of the United States, residing at The machine of the present invention rey lates to that type of cotton picker which is adapted to enter a field of cotton and automatically yremove the cqtton from the plant and convey it into areceptacle. The machine differs from the cotton pickers usually employed, which are carried by the field hand, in that this machine requires only' the service ofone operator, whose work will consist in guiding the machine through the field. rlhe picking operation in the present construction is performed entirely by mechanisms.

The objects of the present invention are, to provide a mechanism which will be operated in a manner to have the picking` members pass through the plant with an operation similar to that of a rake, thus insuring the removal of all of the cotton from the plant; to provide a manner of mounting the picking members or teeth, whereby said members will not become broken or bent in case they should encounter an unusual obstruction, such as the stalk of the plant; to provide an air pressure which will serve to remove the cotton from the picking members and to convey the removed cotton to a receptacle; to provide means for automatically swinging the picker members from picking to non-picking position; and to provide means for rotating the picker teeth and for automatically changing the direction of rotation of the picker members.

rlhe invention further consists inthe features of construction and in the combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

ln the drawings, Figure 1 isa side elevation of the machine of the present invention; Fig. 2, a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a plan viewfof the mechamsm for moving the picker members into and outof picking position, for rotating the picker members, and for reversing their direction of rotation;,Fig. 4, a detail showing Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 22?, 1914.

Application filed August'24, 1911. Serial No. 645,835.

one set of picker members and the manner of mounting the same, and their relation to the airy ducts for supplying pressure to remove 'the cotton from the members and for conveying the removed cotton to a receptacle; Fig. 5, asection on line 5-5' of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 6, a detail showing the gear connection for driving the mechanism for operating the picker members; Fig. 7, a detail of the connection between the shafts carrying the picker members and the driving means for said shaft; Fig. 8, a view of the parts shown in Fig. 7, looking from the side of Fig. 7; and Fig. 9, a detail of one of the' picker members. l' The device of the present invention is mounted upon a truck, consisting of a bed 10 and supporting wheels 11. These may be of any well known arrangement, and the power mechanism for driving the truck, as well as the steering mechanism and other similar accessories, may be of any style well known in the art which would be of a nature adapted for use with a machine of the ,type of the present invention. In the construction shown in the drawings, there are three sets .of picker members. It is the intention, of

course, to havethe appending claims cover a construction 1n which may be employed one or more sets of picking members. These members, however', are all alike in construction and arrangement and are all operated in the same manner.V Therefore, in the following description only one of these sets of picking members will be4 dealt with, it being understood that the arrangement contemplates the employment of any number desircd. The picking members are possibly best shown in Fig. i, and consist of an elongated needlelike member 12, which is lmounted within and carried by a yoke-shaped member 13; and said member 12 has secured atv one end a friction disk 14, which is in engagement with a friction disk 15 lying in the interior of the yoke-shaped member; and the disk 15 is secured to a shaft 16 by a key or other suitable arrangement, whereby the shafty may have a longitudinal movement back and forth with respect to said disk.

of the spring is secured to a lever or rocking arm 19, said spring forming a resilient link breaking of themember would not result,

owing to the liexibility of the mounting, which 'flexibility would enable the picking member to yield to the pressure incident to its engagement with an obstruction, thereby eliminating the consequent pressure upon the member which would otherwise result. A'series of coil springs 20 are mounted on the shaft 16 and suchsprings tend to maintain the yoke members a proper distance apart along 'said shaft as will be clearly understood by referring to Fig. 4. This allows the yoke members and teeth to have a certain movement longitudinally of the shaft 16, so that if-the strain upon the picker member should be in this direction, the members would be permitted to yield sufficiently so as to obviate the danger of their breaking or bending.

' It might be stated at this time that each of the sets of picking mechanisms is composed of a plurality of picking members, each similar to the oneV heretofore described, and each mounted in a Vsimilar manner. shown in Figi), it is considered to be advantageous to knurl or serrate the faces of the picker members 12, so that they may more readily engage and extract cotton from the plant.' By referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that each setfof picking mechanisms comprises oppositely disposed picking members, which, when n picking position, extend obliqiiely toward one another. There are, of course, several of these members, as will be seen from a study of Fig. 1, each lying in vertical alinement, so that the effect ofthe entire set of picking members when ythey are passing through the plant is that of a rake. As heretofore stated, one of the objects of the invention isto provide means for automatically moving these picking members into and out of picking position. This mechanism is probably best shown in Fig. 3, and consists of a shaft 21 having thereon a mutilated gear22, best shown in Fig. 6; and meshing with this gear is a mutilated gear.. 23 mounted on a stub shaft 23,

l.which is connected by abelt or chain 24 to an engine shaft 25, this latter arrangement being best shown in Fig. 3. The shaft 21 is provided with a series of cranks 26, each f which connects with a link or rod 27, which in turn is 'connected to one of the rocking levers 19. The operation of this portion of the mechanism-is as follows: The

gear 23 is a continuously driven gear, but

by reason of the mutilationsof it and the gear 22, there is an intermittent rotary movement imparted to the gear 22 and hence to the shaft 21. Upon one of the movements of the gear 22, the shaft 21 will be actuated to swing the cranks 26, and, through the movements of the links 27 and levers 19, pull the picking members so that they lie substantially parallel to the sides of the machine, wlien out of picking position. They ai'e allowed to remain there for a predetermined period of time, owing to the mutilations of the gears 22 and 23. Upon the next movement of the cranks, due to the engagement of the teeth of the gears 22'aiid 23, the picker members will be swung into picking position, or the position shown in Fig. 3, and will remain there for a predetermined period ofl time.

Lying to the outside of the picker members are walls or sidings, which are in the lnature of plate-like members and are designated in the drawings by the numeral 28. Each of these walls is hollow, as best shown the chambered members 31 terminates in a nozzle or configured outlet 32, which has its open end directed toward the troughs 30; and the pipe 33, best shown in Fig. 1, leading'from a fan 34, extends along each ot the -chambered members 31 and communicates with a nozzle 32, whereby a draft of air is forced through the pipes 35 extending through the chambers 3l and is ejected through the nozzle oropen end 32.

When the picker teeth are withdrawn from picking position, they lie within the troughs 30, as best shown in Fiffs. 4f and 5, and when in such position, the ldraft of air coming from the nozzle 32 will remove the cotton from said teeth and force it into the chamber 29. This chamber may, if desired, be closed at its lower end by a iap valve 3G, which will be adapted to open after a certain accumulation of cotton has been placed thereon, although this feature of the device may be employed or not as desired without affecting the operation of the )icker mechanism. The cotton, however, will pass from the chamber 29 into a )ipe 37, which is in communication, as best siown in Fig. 1, with a fan 38; andthe pipe 37 leads to a receptacle or bag 39. When the teeth are swung out of picking position, it is deemed Vdesirable to changetheir direction of rota lll) nected by belts 4.3, orotherv suitable connections, to the engine shaft 25. In order to effect the reversal lof the direction of rotation of said teeth, I show one form of mechanism in which I employ a cam 44, best shown in F ig. 3, which is attached to the shaft carrying the gear 23. Extending from said cam is a pivoted link 45, which connects with a sliding bar 46, said bar being provided with crank arms 47 connected to rock-shafts 48, 'which latter shafts in turn are connected by crank arms 49 to the shafts 16. Obviously, as the cam revolves, the lever 45 will swing to reciprocate the bar or lever 46, rock the shafts'48, move the crank arms 49, and pull the disk 40 to the opposite side of the center of the disk, thereby reversing the direction of the rotation lof the shafts 16. The movements of the disk 40 across the disk 4l will be in synchrony with thel in and out movements of the picker teeth, whereby, when in picking position, the picker members will be revolved in one direction, and when out of picking position willbe revolved in an opposite direction, the first' movement being in a direction to wind the, cotton upon the members, and the second being'to unwind it therefrom. i

The operation briefly is as follows: As the machine traverses a field, the picker members are moved into and out of picking position'in the manner described. When they are out of picking position and lying within the troughs 30, their direction of ro tation is reversed and the blast of air coming out of the nozzles 32 serves to strip the cotton from the teeth and force it into the pipe 9,`from whence it passes to the pipe 37 and thence is blown to the receptacle 39. lVhen several sets of picker mechanisms are used, it is, of course, understood thatwhile one set is in picking position, the next adjacent set is out of picking position, such intermittency of the operation of the mechanisms occurring all along the machine.

I claim:

4l. In a cotton picker, the combination of a supporting frame embodying side portions arranged to lie upon opposite ysides of a row of plants, vertically extending rock shafts upon each of said side portions arranged in opposed relationand held against relative bodily movement with respect to said side portions, a 'series of horizontally extending pivotally mounted picker members arranged in series longitudinally of said shafts, connections between said shafts and picker members, means operatively connected for imparting an interrupted rocking movement to said shafts whereby saidv picker members are moved toward and from the center ofthe machine, said interruptions occurring when said picker members are at the extremities of their movement, meansfor removing the picked cotton from the picker member, and means for rotating said picker members about their longitudinal axis, substantially as des ribed.

2. In a cotton picker, the combination of a supporting .frame embodying side portions arranged to, lie upon opposite sides of a row of plants, vertically extending rock shafts upon each of said side portions ar ranged in opposed relation and held against relative bodily movement with respect to said -side portions, a series of horizontally extending pivotally mounted picker members arranged in series longitudinally of said shafts, connections between said shafts and picker members, means operatively con` nected .for imparting an interrupted rocking movement to said shafts whereby said picker members are moved toward and from the center of the machine, said interruptions occurring When said picker members are at the extremities of their movement and being of longer duration while the picker membersare in picking position than while they are out of picking position.

3. In a cotton picker, the combination of a supporting frame embodying side portions arranged to lie upon opposite vsides of a row of plants, vertically extending rock shafts'on each. of said side portions ary stantially as described.

' 4. In a cotton picker, the combination of a supporting frame embodying side portions arranged to lie upon opposite sides of a row of plants, vertically extending rock shafts on each of said side portions are ranged in opposed relation and held against relative bodily movement with respect to said side portions, a series of horizontally extending pivotally mounted picker members arranged in series longitudinally of said shafts, one series for each shaft, connections between said shafts and picker members, resilient means for spacing said 55 receptacle, substantially as described.

,picker members apart upon said shafts,

of plants, vertically extending rock shafts on each of said side portions arranged in opposed relation, a series of horizontally extending pivotally mounted picker members arranged in series longitudinally of said shafts, one series for each shaft, flexible connectionsI between said shafts and picker members, 'resilient means for spacing said picker members apart upon said shafts,

means operatively connected for imparting interrupted rocking movement whereby said picker members are moved toward and-from the center of the machine, means for remov? ing the picked cotton from the picker meinbers, and means for rotating said picker lmembers about their longitudinal axis, substantially as described.

` 6. n'a .cotton picker, the combination of a supporting frame embodying side portions arranged to lie on opposed sides of a row of plants, vertically extending rock shafts upon each of said side portions arranged in opposed relation, a series -of horizontally extending pivotally mounted picker mein bers arranged in series longitudinally of said shafts, one series foreach shaft, connections between said shafts and ,picker members, a series of horizontally extending troughs secured to said side portions, means for rocking said shafts with an interrupted rocking movementv whereby said picker members are moved into and out of picking position, said members when out of picking position lyingwithin said troughs, means for revolvin the picker members about their longitu inal axis, means for removing the picked cotton from the picker members and delivering it into saidv troughs, a conduit communicating with said troughs, a receptacle for the cotton, and means for conveying said cotton from said conduit to said 7. In a cotton picker, the combination of a supporting frame embodying'side portions arranged to lie on opposed sides of a row of plants, vertically extending rock shafts upon each of said sideportions arranged in opposed relation, va series of horizontally extending pivotally mounted picker menibers arranged in series longitudinally of said shafts, one series for each shaft, con- .'the picker members and nections between said shafts and picker members, resilient means for spacing the members apart upon said shafts, a series of horizontally extending troughs secured to said side portions, means for rocking said shafts with an interrupted Arocking movement whereby said picker members are moved into and out of picking position, said members when out of picking position lying within said troughs, means for revolving the picker members about their longitudinal axis, means for removing the picked cotton from delivering it into said troughs, a conduit communicating with said\troughs, a receptacle for the cotton, and means for conveying said cotton from said conduit to said receptacle, substantially as described.

8. n a cotton picker, the combination of a supporting frame embodying side portions arranged to lie on opposed sides of a row of plants, vertically extending rock shafts upon each of said side portions arranged in opposed relation, a series of horizontally extending pivotally mounted picker meinbers arranged in series longitudinally of said shaft, one series for each shaft, flexible connections between said shafts and picker members, resilient means for spacing the.

members apart upon said shafts, a series of horizontally extending troughs secured to said side portions, means for rocking said shafts with an interrupted rocking movement whereby said picker members are moved into and out of picking position, said members when out of pickingnposition lying ,within said troughs, means for revolving the picker members about their longitudinal axis, means for removing the picked cotton from the picker member and delivering'it into said troughs, a conduit communicating with said troughs, a. receptacle for the cotton, and means for conveying said cotton from said conduit to said receptacle, substantially us described.

S). In a cotton picker, the combination of a supporting frame embodying side portions arranged to lie on opposite sides of a row of plants, vertically extending rock shafts upon each of said side portions arranged in opposed position a series of lhorizontally extending pivotaily mounted picker members arranged in series longitudinally of said shafts, one series for each shaft, connections between said shafts and picker members, a series of horizontally extending troughs secured to said side portions, means for rocking said shafts ywith au interrupted rocking movement, whereby said picker members are moved into and out of picking position, said members when out of picking position lyi'no within said troughs, means for directing ilasts of air to said troughs to remove the picked cotton from the picker llO ideama y f members, .a conduit communicating with said troughs, a receptacle for the cotton, and means for delivering'blasts of air through said conduits to carry the cotton into the' receptacle, substantially as ydescribed. i

'10. ln a cotton picker, the combination of a frame embodying side portions armembers and rock shafts, means for actu` ating said rock shafts to swing said mem` bers into and out of picking yposition about said bearing shafts as centersand means for removing the picked cotton from the picker members, substantially as described.

11. In acotton picker, the combination of a frame, embodying side portions arranged to lie upon opposite sides of a row of plants, vertically extending rotatable shafts on said side portions, Said shafts being held against relative bodily movement with respect to said side portions, a series of horizontally extending picker members pivotally mounted on each of said shafts,means for rocking the picker members about said lshafts to move them in and out of'picking position,

means operatively connected for rotating said shafts and connections between said shafts and picker members whereby said members are rotated about their longitudinal axis by the rotating movement of said shafts, substantially as described.

12. 1n lal cotton picker, the combination of a frame embodyingside portions arranged to lie uponopposite -sides of a row of plants, rotatable Ashafts on said side portions held Aagainst relative bodily movement with respect to said side portions, a series of horizontally extending picker members pivotally mounted on each of said shafts, means for rocking the picker members about said shafts to move them in and out of picking position, means operatively connected for rotating said shafts, connections between said shafts and picker members whereby said members are rotated about their longitudinal axis by the rotating movement of said shafts and means for reversing the direction of-rotation of said shafts when the "picker members are moved out of picking position,'substantially as described.

13. 1n a cotton picker, the combination ofV a frame embodying side portions arranged to lie upon opposite sides of a row of plants, a series of vertically extending rotatable shafts on said side portions held against relative bodily movement with respect to said side portions, means operatively connected for rotating said shafts, a' series of ,yoke members pivotally mounted on each of said shafts to have independent movement thereon, a picker member carried lby each of said yoke members, a series of driv- .ing members on said rotatable shafts, one driving member lying within the confines of each yoke member, a driven member on each of said picker members in operativeconnection with one of said driving members, and means for rocking the yoke members about said shafts whereby the picker members are moved into andvout of picking position, substantially as described.

14. In a cotton picker, the combination of la frame embodying side portions arranged to lie on opposite sides of a row of plants, a series of vertically extending rof tatable shafts on said side portions held against relative bodily movement with re spect to said side portions, means Ioperatively connected for rotating said shafts, a series of yoke members pivotally mounted on each of said shafts, each yoke member having independent movementv thereon, a picker member carried by each of said yoke members, a series of driving members on said rotatable shafts, one driving member lying within the confines of each yoke member, a driven member on each of said 'picker members in operative connection with one of said driving members, means for rocking the yoke members about said shafts whereby the picker members are moved into and out of picking position, and means for reversing the direction of rotation of said shafts when the picker members are moved out of picking position, substantially as described.

15. In a cotton picker, the combination of a frame embodying side portions arranged to lie upon opposite sides of a row of plants, rotatable shafts on said side portions held against relative bodily movement with respect to said side portions, a series of horizontally extending picker members pivotally mounted on said shafts, means for rocking said picker members about said` posite sides of a row of plants, a series of eol 'shafts on said side portions, held against relatively bodily movement With respect to said side portions, picker members' pivotally ymounted on said shafts, .a crank shaft, a oonnection between sald crank shaft and each of said picker members and means for rotating said crank shaft with an intermittent movement ywhereby a period of rest is STEPHEN S. THOMAS.

Witnesses C. F. CLAPP, MARY E. TREAT. 

